Tuesday 3 April 2012

Good Samaritans.


A postscript to yesterday's bikeride:

Right after taking the last photo yesterday I began pushing my cycle. The ground beneath my feet felt uneven, then the whole world started spinning. I lurched to the side of the path and sat down feeling weak and confused. I didn't know what had happened. I thought maybe eating something would be the answer. It wasn't. My sandwich soon made an unwelcome re-appearance.

I sat. I stood up. I staggered and sat down again, I can't recall ever feeling worse. But the point of this post isn't to wallow in my own suffering but to tell you of the Good Samaritans who helped me out.

  • a man out walking his dogs asked if he could help. He couldn't run me home as he had a hospital appointment that afternoon. But he would find someone who could.
  • he soon came back with a man who had been parking his car. He would take me home but had no room in his car for the bike. The two of them supervised locking the bike up safely. At this stage I couldn't care less about the bicycle.
  • second man took me in his car to my door but wouldn't take anything for his trouble.
  • when I began to feel a little better I phoned my brother. He'd pick up the bike after work. No problem.
  • my brother's boss said he could borrow the works van for the task.
so ailing man and bicycle were eventually re-united safe at home. I can only assume that I had some kind of food-poisoning. I'm gradually improving, thanks. But I cannot thank those Good Samaritans enough. 

Take care.




22 comments:

  1. Oh you poor, poor thing, I had food poisoning on holiday, and it has to be the worse feeling ever! I do hope you recover completely soon and as you have shown, isn't the world filled with so many really good people? jane x

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  2. Take good care yourself and get well soon John!

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  3. This is such a wonderful post, not because you fell sick, but because you've acknowledged those who helped you. It makes my heart sing when I hear of such good people. I'm pleased that you are feeling better!

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  4. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better now and to hear about the good deeds of those men.

    Your comment about amazon made me chuckle! Tempting as their fabulous offer may be, I think I'll hang on to my book rather than exchange it for MILLIONS of things at that bargain price!

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  5. Hope you are feeling much, much better by now John. A heart-warming and encouraging story in these days of headlines that are full of gloom and doom. The image of your bike on the bridge and surrounding thicket is marvellous. In the words of a "famous" Australian TV advert - "Keep on keeping on" John! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Glad you're feeling better, John. Your neighbor/strangers sound much like the folks around here; just plain good people. Glad they found you.

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  7. people are very kind are they not?
    thanks for reminding all us cynical modern types take care ok

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  8. Oh what a thought-provoking post. So often I am out alone, off the beaten track. I do have a cell phone with me and can get a connection in most of the places I explore. Wow...you've got me thinking. Glad all worked out well for you John.

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  9. A friend of mine, walking alone late in the night, recently collapsed on the sidewalk and was "rescued" by some passers-by. I hold "people" in generally low regard, but it just goes to show that I can (and have) been proven wrong.

    I was surprised that you weren't a bit more concerned for your bicycle, but I probably shouldn't have been. While on a river cruise in Russia a few years ago, I sat on the deck in the early evening, enjoying the scenery. It was chilly, but I didn't give it much thought until it got too dark to see the riverbank and I went back to my cabin. Once there, I realized that I had gotten thoroughly, thoroughly chilled. I was so sick I just crawled into bed, got under as many covers as I could, and waited to die--that's how bad I felt. My wife couldn't understand what had happened, and I just begged her to go away and leave me alone. I finally got warm again and regained my civility. It made me realize how little I could care for anything (like you and your bicycle) when I felt so bad.

    You must be getting better--you "posted"!

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  10. I'm glad you had some Good Samaritans to help you. There are still lots of kind-hearted people out there. Take care of yourself. A good cup of tea, perhaps?

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  11. I hope your next ride will be a better one. Thank goodness for the kindness of some people.

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  12. so glad to hear the happy ending to your post John; it's a warm and fuzzy feeling to know you had the right people nearby to help you out. Love the photo with your bike near the bridge .. Take care!

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  13. You must have felt awful! Hope you are beginning to feel better now. You know sometimes I despair of society but it just goes to show that people do still care about their fellow humans and are capable of wonderful acts of kindness. Take care:)

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  14. Isn't it heartening to know that there are still people like this around John? Hope you are soon OK again - I agree it does sound like food poisoning.

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  15. It's Good to know that Good Samaritins still exist.
    Feel better soon,
    Becky

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  16. What an experience, John. I'm glad it ended well. There really are some good people in this world.

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  17. What a scary experience John, I'm so glad you're on the mend, but methinks you should be heading off for a checkup! I think the majority of people are very kind and helpful, how lucky you were that someone was walking by. Take care.

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  18. Glad the tale had a happy ending and that you seem to be getting better. Maybe you were lucky in the country. In town someone would have probably thought you a drunk and left you! Or maybe I'm just a pessimist.

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  19. I am not especially surprised that you got help from these people. It is always more rewarding to assume that people want to be good and helpful than to assume the opposite.

    Incidents like you describe happen from time to time, perhaps from food poisoning but also from other organic causes. Maybe it is time to get checked out. Glad you are back and feeling better.

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  20. So sorry for all that distress, John. I find, especially in a small town or in the country, that people still nourish that Good Samaritan spirit, and I am always amazed at how many people smile and say hello, whether they know you or not. All is not lost...yet. Take care.

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  21. Hope you're feeling better today, John... I'm so glad there are still caring people in the world... makes me feel better!

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  22. Thanks for all your good wishes. No, I'd taken the picture of the bike earlier!

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